Top 10 Travel Guide Websites
There are so many travels guides out there that it can be difficult to choose one that will satisfy your wanderlust and inspire you on your next trip. We’ve found the best places for inspiration.
Travel guides help us plan our trips better. It can be difficult to choose from the thousands of travel guides that claim to be experts.
Some people prefer to use a guidebook, while others prefer to have a detailed itinerary tailored to their preferences. Travelers, pundits, and perfectionists want to plan their own trips. Also, they need guides and suggestions to assist with their planning and research.
1. Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has become a major brand in the travel sector, providing travel guides as well as other resources for destinations around the world. The site is primarily geared toward backpackers who are on a tight budget.
The travel guidebooks are available both in digital and printed form. They fall into a number of categories, including regions, countries, cities, hiking, trekking, etc. These guidebooks include maps, tips and tricks from experts, itineraries, information about off-the-beaten path attractions, and more.
Lonely Planet, although it is no longer as up-to-date and resourceful as it once was, remains one of the most useful travel websites for getting an overview of different destinations. The website allows you to book dining and accommodation options. Click here to read our complete review of Lonely Planet.
Pros
- Over 825 guides in one collection
- Learn the local language with phrasebooks
- It covers a wide range of destinations around the world
- Travel information is available for free
Cons
- Complaints about outdated information
- Unreliable customer services
- The Travel Forum “Thorn Tree”, which was previously available, is no longer accessible
2. Fodor’s Travel
Fodor’s Travel offers travel guides to destinations all over the world. They specialize in guidebooks, both printed and eBook. Over 300 travel guides cover more than 7000 locations. It also offers a wealth of information and insider tips as well as visually appealing content about different destinations. This website is great for general information and inspiration.
Fodor’s Forum is a good place to find useful tips and advice for your travel plans. There is a vibrant community, so you are more likely to receive answers quickly. To access its full features, you must be a registered member.
Fodor’s Travel Forum and website are free to use. The guides can be purchased from Amazon or the website. Prices range between $10 and $20 on average. Here is our detailed review of Fodor’s Travel.
Pros
- Advice forums that are helpful
- Good suggestions
- It covers a wide range of destinations
Cons
- Guidebooks that are incomplete (complaints about missing pages)
- Localized recommendations are not available
3. Rough Guides
Rough Guides initially focused solely on selling travel guides in eBook and paperback formats. They are still popular among travelers. They offer:
- Itineraries.
- Background information
- Use maps to find your way around.
- The writer’s own recommendations.
- Detailed regional coverage
The prices of books vary.
Rough Guides specializes in tailor-made travel guidebooks to meet your individual preferences. Connect with a local specialist to create an itinerary tailored for you. You will need to enter your budget, desired destination, dining and accommodation preferences, and preferred activities. You can either hire a local expert to plan and book your trip or rely on insider tips. Prices vary depending on what kind of service is required.
You can also read articles about travel tips, the best destinations, and other topics related to travel on this website. Rough Rides can be a great source of inspiration, even if it is just you planning your trip.
Pros
- Travel guidebooks in a wide variety
- Itineraries tailored to your needs
- Local knowledge and recommendations
Cons
- Free?
- It’s not very user-friendly
4. ViaHero
ViaHero offers a personalized travel guidebook written by locals. It also promises to reduce the stress of planning by outsourcing an expert, or ‘Hero’, who will provide a daily best travel guide in sydney. You will also be kept informed about each step of planning.
Select the destination to view the Heroes that are available. Each Hero’s bio is detailed and outlines their personality, specialties, and expertise. Also, you can read reviews from past travelers. You just need to choose a Hero and then specify your needs. A customized itinerary costs $40 per day.
You will still be able to contact the Hero via email or message, but he won’t accompany you. ViaHero posts travel articles that users can read to learn more about the destinations they are planning to visit. If you want to learn more, check out our ViaHero review.
Pros
- Convenient
- Travel guides that focus on local attractions and places to visit
- Itineraries with high-quality and detailed information
Cons
- Limited destinations are covered by the service
- Costly
5. Frommer’s
Frommer’s is one of the most useful travel websites because it offers a lot of information for travelers. Frommer’s provides travel information, including podcasts and guidebooks. One of the oldest publishers of travel guides, they also offer podcasts.
The titles of this publisher cater to all types of travelers and cover every major destination in the world. The travel guidebooks of this company are available both in eBook and paperback format. The books are similar to other products on the market.
Frommer’s has an incredible amount of travel information. You can search by destination or trip ideas. You can also find a section for travel news and tips. This is particularly helpful, as the travel restrictions and rules are continually revised and updated.
You can also find a section called ‘Deals & Bookings.’ This will help you get great deals on accommodations, flights, cruises, and car rentals. Frommer’s website is good for travel information, even if you do not want to buy travel guides.
Pros
- Travel information updated
- Over 350 travel guidebooks
- Accommodations that are a good choice
Cons
- Guidebooks only cover the major highlights
- The website is outdated
6. Trip advisor
Trip advisor is a site that’s known for its weird and useful reviews. You can read travel guides and get tips and advice, book reservations, and plan trips.
Tripadvisor is a popular travel app that travelers use for advice and recommendations. You can find reviews for any restaurant, hostel, or attraction in the world. You can create a new discussion if you cannot find any reviews or discussions about the topic.
There is also a wealth of travel content, such as travel guides by ardent travelers or ‘Things to Do” lists for different destinations. Tripadvisor offers expert guides, but you can also use them to book hotels and other services like tours, activities, accommodations, etc. This is one of the most popular travel websites.
You can save and view your favorite experiences and places in a particular destination. If you’re looking for an online tool to help plan your trip, we recommend a Better Travel Planner.
Pros
- Enjoy Free Shipping
- Travel forum with active discussion for tips and advice
- You can find a lot of reviews from other users to guide your decision.
- Travel content in abundance
- Attractive travel deals
- Apps for mobile convenience
Cons
- Fake or biased reviews
- The checkout cart is a glorified version of the shopping cart. It’s not very inspiring.
- Bookings and reservations are not always easy to manage.
7. Localeur
Localeur offers travelers the opportunity to enjoy authentic and local experiences while avoiding tourist traps. It provides useful tips and advice from locals, not tourists. It currently covers more than 200 destinations, and its user base is 5 million.
The platform offers recommendations for everything from shopping tips to road trips, restaurants, and places to eat. The local experts are composed of foodies, writers, artists, and other experts from various fields. You want to include the most important attractions on your itinerary when you plan your vacation.
Localeur only offers its main features to its subscribers. A lifetime subscription costs $150, or you can choose a $10 monthly subscription. You will receive two emails per week with travel inspiration, travel guides personalized to you, and recommendations.
You can still access its travel content and localeurs for free. Subscribers to their newsletter are also welcome. Localeur Review: Read the full review here.
Pros
- Reliable and high-quality recommendations
- Local experiences
- There are many choices
Cons
- Subscriptions are expensive
- Limited destinations
- Recommendations can be biased
8. Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura aims to entice people with its quirky and attractive travel guides. It features stories that focus on science, nature, culture, history and food. This travel guide is perfect for those who love to see sights that are unusual, strange, or hidden.
The site has a large collection of information on cool restaurants and unusual attractions in many destinations around the world. These seem to be very interesting and informative. They are a great addition to your itinerary. You can discuss travel topics with other users in the community forums that are listed under each destination.
Atlas Obscura also offers guided tours of amazing locations described by the company. The majority of these trips are adventure tours to lesser-known places. Travelers are sure to have a once in a lifetime experience. Travel guide also offers virtual experiences.
Atlas Obscura offers a variety of travel-related content that is free to browse. However, a membership is required to participate in events and experiences hosted by the company. You can choose between monthly and annual plans.
Pros
- Travel guides of the highest quality
- Focuses on unique attractions
- Virtual experiences and guided tours are available
Cons
- It’s not the best place to find travel tips and guides
- It is not ideal for those who are seeking information on the usual tourist attractions
- Paying for membership
9. Travel + Leisure
No list of the best travel websites would be complete without this top travel and leisure publication. While Travel + Leisure focuses primarily on exotic holiday destinations, high-end holidays, its quality content is worth for every traveler. It is an informative resource that teaches travelers how to prepare for upcoming trips.
Travel +Leisure provides unique accommodation, dining, attractions in different destinations. On the site, you will find the latest news on travel, as well as deals, tips and accessories. You can filter the guides in the “Travel Guides” section based on language, location, best time of year to visit and activities.
The magazine introduced its subscription and trip booking features last year. Travel + Leisure Go allows you to book trips for destinations that are published on the site and other exclusive itinerarys. Subscribers to the Travel and Leisure magazine ($9.95 per monthly) get discounts on accommodations and other services.
Pros
- Updated and very informative content
- The site covers a variety of travel topics
- Convenient trip booking feature
- Travel deals
Cons
- Limited destinations under ‘Travel Guides’
- It doesn’t provide detailed travel itinerary
- Expensive subscription fee
10. Conde Nast Traveller
Conde Nast Traveller, a magazine and travel guide website, also caters to luxury experiences. This website offers a wealth of travel inspiration for expensive staycations. The website also has a focus on budget-conscious travelers. We still think that it is one of the most up-to date travel guides out there.
This travel magazine covers a variety of topics, from the best places to eat pizza to filming locations for famous movies to fun activities to do with your kids when you are traveling. Conde Nast Traveller is a great place to find the best dining and accommodation options, as well as travel content that focuses on art and style. This website is a great place to find travel tips from industry experts.
Travel news and travel tips will help you to plan your trip and navigate. Conde Nast Traveller offers subscriptions for those who are interested in receiving the digital or print version of its magazine. Costs vary depending on where you live.
Pros
- Excellent content
- Travel news that is updated regularly
- Unique destinations and attractions
Cons
- Costly
- Not for budget backpackers
- No Trip Booking Feature